August 26/08 4:44 am - Giant to Supply Rabobank with Bikes

Posted by Editoress on 08/26/08

Giant to Supply Rabobank with BikesCourtesy Giant BIcycles

Giant is pleased to announce it will partner with the Rabobank Cycling Team starting in 2009. As the official bicycle sponsor of Rabobank, Giant will supply bikes to the team that includes three-time World Champion Oscar Freire, two-time Vuelta a Espana winner Denis Menchov and current Cyclocross World Champion Lars Boom.

Giant's two-year agreement with Rabobank covers three separate teams - an elite international road team, an Under-23 developmental team and a professional cyclocross team.

The partnership links Giant to one of the longest-running organizations in professional road cycling. Rabobank, a Netherlands-based global bank, has been the team's title sponsor since 1996. In the last 12 years, Rabobank riders have won nine world titles and more than 20 Tour de France stages. Most recently, Freire won the green points jersey at the 2008 Tour de France.

"We're pleased Rabobank has chosen to ride Giant," said Tony Lo, chief executive officer of Giant. "It's a natural fit - two organizations with a long-term commitment to competitive cycling. Combine Rabobank's talent with Giant's ability to create superior products, and great things are sure to happen."

Giant's partnership with Rabobank continues a decade-long tradition of working with the world's top road racing teams. Sponsoring the sport's best racers pushes Giant designers and engineers to develop high-performance, cutting-edge technology.

Rabobank team bikes will be equipped with Shimano components. Both Giant and the Rabobank Cycling Team have a long, successful history of collaborating with Shimano in the professional peloton.

The agreement between Giant and the Rabobank Cycling Team goes into effect January 1, 2009.